State teacher evaluations could change block scheduling at Hunterdon Central High School

RARITAN TWP. — The block schedules in effect at Hunterdon Central High School for 17 years could be changed in the 2013-14 school year, under a goal set by Superintendent Chris Steffner and approved by the school board.

It is one of two qualitative goals approved by the board at its August meeting, in addition to three quantitative goals.

Steffner plans to work with Central's School Scheduling Task Force to "create a rotating block or A/B schedule which would address emerging state guidelines of new testing requirements and benchmarks." A change would then be presented to the board, with possible implementation a year from now.

Steffner said that goal has roots in the state's new teacher evaluation system, because "50% of a teacher's evaluation will be based on student performance."

While the state hasn't finalized how that performance will be evaluated, she said that "current discussion is that there will be testing windows for school every six weeks, which is designed for a more traditional school schedule, rather than a block schedule."

In effect, students take a year's worth of a course in a semester. And a traditional half-year class is taken in one quarter. When block scheduling was implemented, administrators predicted that it would lead to "improved concentration" and "depth rather than breadth."

Since then they have also cited advantages in classes such as science, where the longer periods are conducive to lab work. It also permits more work time in areas where there is set-up and clean-up, such as art class.

Graduates have said that the longer periods better prepared them for college courses, but some have opined that it presents a more difficult transition to high school for certain types of students.

Steffner said this week that administrators will work with Central's School Scheduling Task Force "to be prepared to change our schedule, if we feel there is a better schedule that will meet our students' needs and allow them to perform optimally on these new assessments."

The second qualitative goal calls for her to: "Develop and implement a common 'walk-through' observation tool for our administrative team based on best practices," provide training and "an instrument for data collections" and then an analysis of that data. This goal applies to the way administrators will evaluate teachers' classroom skills.

One of three of Steffner's quantitative bonuses would be based upon delivering a budget that would increase the operating budget tax levy by 1.5% or less, "without an increase in class size or reduction of programs."

The remaining two quantitative goals are AP-related; increase the number of students taking AP classes by 10%, and increase the number of those students who then sit for the national exam by 10%.

Steffner, formerly the school's principal, was named interim superintendent last summer and became "permanent" superintendent earlier this year.

Under the terms of her contract, which runs through 2015, Steffner is eligible for a merit bonus going forward each year up to $15,000, apportioned annually according to the results of each goal.